A proposed partnership between the Somerset West Community Health Centre and Ottawa Community Immigrant Services could boost the fundraising potential for the Marion Dewar Scholarship Fund for immigrant and refugee youth in Ottawa.
But it could also mean changes to the profile of the scholarship, awarded for the first time, by the immigrant services organization last month.
Hamdi Mohamed, executive director of the immigrant services organization, says originally, the health centre planned to create its own scholarship fund to honour the late former mayor of Ottawa, but approached immigrant services this summer, once it was clear the immigrant services organization was further ahead in its planning.
“They hadn’t been publicized to the extent that we had,” says Mohamed.
She says Ottawa Centre MP Paul Dewar – Marion Dewar’s son – announced the immigrant services organization was founding the scholarship at their annual gala last year.
Rosemary Jones, manager of resource development for the health centre, says both organizations initially envisioned a scholarship to support local immigrants and refugees, but says the health centre had a slightly broader group in mind.
The immigrant services organization requires scholarship applicants to be graduating high school students pursuing full time studies in a first degree or certificate program in Ottawa. Applicants must also have a minimum academic average of 80 percent and demonstrate a financial need.
Jones says the health centre wanted to include individuals pursuing alternative post secondary studies such as dental or office assistant programs.
She says because the health centre’s services specifically target the Somerset West community, discussions on a potential partnership will have to take the needs of that community as well as the health centre’s original ideas into consideration.
However, Jones says the shared goal of honouring Dewar by supporting immigrants and refugees has forged a strong link between the two organizations. And she says she was impressed with the inaugural scholarship presentation as well as the immigrant services organization’s initial fundraising success.
The first two Marion Dewar Scholarships – worth $1,000 each – were awarded to Ijabo Abdi and Damaris Sarai Gomez.
Abdi, a first-year science student at the University of Ottawa, says the money will help her support her mother, who is a trained nurse, but has only been able to get odd-jobs since arriving in Ottawa as a refugee from Somalia.
“This Marion Dewar Scholarship will enable me to work this summer to help my mom instead of working for my books,” she says.
According to the immigrant services organization, the scholarship is being funded, in part, by donations from its members.